If you happened to have passed by the UA Library at any time during the day last week, you probably witnessed any of the following events: a Junior School Assembly filled with song and cultural celebrations, our Middle School students watching the Olympics, a focused library lesson on Black History and Black Excellence, a busy lunchtime club, or our OOSC students enjoying after-school activities or senior school students just having a chat with Ms. Twaites! The library is truly the hub of learning and belonging at UA; a vibrant, multi-purpose space where our mission of being connected through learning and inspired by community comes to life every single day.
Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
Our goal for the library is to intentionally foster a sense of belonging by ensuring our collection acts as a mirror, a window, and a sliding glass door for every student. We want our students to see their own lived experiences reflected in the stories on our shelves (mirrors), providing that powerful sense of being ‘seen’ and affirmed. Equally, we provide ‘windows’ for them to look through and learn about worlds different from their own, and ‘sliding glass doors’ that allow them to step into others’ shoes. This pluralistic approach is how we build the empathy, inclusivity, and open-mindedness that are so central to our UA values.
An Extension of the Classroom
Our library is far more than a quiet place for reading and borrowing books; it is an integral partner in our future-focused education. As UA’s Teacher-Librarian, I work hand-in-hand with homeroom teachers from JK to Grade 7 to align resources with current units of inquiry in Junior school or the latest project in middle school. Senior School teachers and students are supported with resources and support in various ways as needed. The library also works with staff to build a professional development library, keeping our faculty inspired and up to date on the latest pedagogy and practices. We excitedly continue to grow our French language section of the library with expertise from our French department, allowing students to share in their favourite stories while building their French language skills. A future plan is to build a mother tongue area, providing the community with books that are reflective of the variety of languages.
Whether our students are diving into a research project or exploring new literary genres, the library serves as a seamless extension of their classroom. By offering a diverse range of fiction and non-fiction at various reading levels, we are both developing reading abilities and expanding the critical thinking skills our students need to navigate an ever-evolving world.
A Space for Everyone
A point of pride at UA is that we endeavour to create environments where students feel safe to take risks and grow. The library is that ‘safe harbour’ at UA. It’s a flexible space where multi-grade buddies gather to share a story, where we host parent guest speakers who share their culture and heritage with us and where we come together to keep up with world happenings, like the Olympics!
By making it a place of both research and play, we ensure that every student feels empowered to be their authentic self. It is here, amidst the shelves and the sunshine, that we truly see our community come together and make lasting connections.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
Ms. Twaites
UA Teacher-Librarian